And what can you do the next time you spot a loved one sharing something less than factual on Facebook? Don’t worry, the experts offered advice for tactfully dealing with this complex situation, too. Two other terms to know: misinformation versus disinformation. Misinformation is the spread of false info, regardless of intent. However, disinformation is untrue info deliberately intended to deceive. Disinformation is intentionally manipulative content or propaganda. “We live in the most complex information landscape in human history,” says Covington. While some social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook, now provide warning labels on content they’ve identified as fake news or misinformation, they don’t catch everything. It’s more important than ever that we each learn how to gut-check and then fact-check info online. To spot fake news, Covington recommends looking out for common red flags. First, ask yourself if this is a news report or something else. “Be cautious of anything user-generated,” she recommends, such as social media posts or memes. She points out that many likes and shares doesn’t necessarily mean that a post is factual. To fact-check a viral video, try searching with words that describe the video. Oftentimes, you’ll quickly find articles debunking it. Similar to fake news stories, fake videos share the same red flags, including producing an emotional response. “If it makes you angry or sad, think twice about it,” says Urbani. Disinformation is designed to play on your emotions. Before you reshare, take time to track down the original source of the video or cross-reference various trusted news sources. By their nature, conspiracy theories are difficult to disprove with facts, so what’s the best way to respond? If you can, start by finding common ground with your loved one, and then ask questions that may help plant a seed of doubt. For example, you could try: “Can I ask where you first found this? I think we’re seeing very different things.” Oftentimes, these conversations are more productive over the phone than online, Covington notes. Don’t expect to change someone’s opinions right away, but keep having the conversations.
